Sulaimon (Walé) Elegbede, Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership, MBA, PMP, ’19, ’25, is Director of Strategy Management Services at Mayo Clinic, a community leader, business owner, developer of the TEACH Framework, educator, and advocate for social justice. He strives to embody the spirit of St. Francis through servant leadership, compassion, dignity, and a commitment to lifting others.
Elegbede was born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa. His father died when he was a young teenager, and two years later, an uncle who supported democracy was assassinated. He later enrolled in a Nigerian Navy secondary school. Those formative experiences, combined with the values instilled by his father, mother, and uncle, helped shape his sense of purpose, resilience, and commitment to service.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Early in his career, Elegbede founded Unique Data Solutions, a software development company, and developed Lumbergear, a software platform that opened doors for him to build production management systems for Miken Sports and other companies.
As Director of Strategy Management Services at Mayo Clinic, Elegbede oversees the Project Management Office and leads a team of project managers and business analysts. His team helps plan and execute strategic initiatives, navigate organizational change, and bring complex ideas from concept through implementation.
Elegbede has helped bring people together around complex, multidisciplinary work. Among those efforts, he led planning for a large multidisciplinary team implementing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, commonly known as CAR T-cell therapy, an innovative immunotherapy used to treat certain blood cancers. The work required coordination across numerous disciplines to move a complex new treatment from planning into clinical practice. Today, that service line continues to make a difference in patients’ lives.
While living in La Crosse, Elegbede collaborated with community leaders, the FSPA, and the late June Kjome to help establish the La Crosse Interfaith Shoulder to Shoulder Network. The organization brought together people of different faiths—and those of no particular faith—to stand against anti-Muslim sentiment, hatred, and discrimination targeting any community.
“It made a difference,” Elegbede said of the group’s work, particularly in strengthening voices for tolerance, freedom, peace, and human dignity.
His experience at Viterbo further deepened his understanding of servant leadership.
“It is a privilege to serve others,” he said. “Servant leadership is about becoming a better person, and that takes time. To fully embrace it requires an open mind. It is a life’s journey.”
That philosophy is reflected in his work with young people. Elegbede co-founded RISE for Youth, a mentorship, skills development, and leadership program created through a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and the Rochester branch of the NAACP. The program helps prepare young people for careers in healthcare and beyond while developing their confidence, skills, and leadership abilities.
His doctoral dissertation led to the development of the TEACH Framework, a research-informed, practice-oriented model for culturally responsive leadership centered on five principles that provide leaders with a practical approach for building organizations and communities where people feel respected, valued, and able to thrive.
His TED Talk explores the importance of ensuring human rights and preserving human dignity.
Elegbede teaches graduate-level courses, including project management, and has held leadership roles with the Project Management Institute La Crosse – Rochester Chapter, and currently serves as President of the Rochester branch of the NAACP.
Across his professional, academic, and community work, a consistent philosophy guides him: success is when we are all doing well. “How do we ensure we are lifting people up and not putting them down?” he asked. This question connects his journey and reflects the Franciscan values that shaped his approach to leadership.
Elegbede and his wife, Audrey, have been married for 20 years and have three children. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and experiencing the arts.
